Fisheries and Oceans Canada has announced that the government has contributed to important multinational fisheries enforcement activities in the North Pacific Ocean to protect high seas fish stocks from illegal fishing activities. The government has ordered long-range air surveillance patrols dubbed “Operation Driftnet, a 12 day period programme from September 23 to October 4, 2010.
Under this programme the Canadian Forces long-range patrol and surveillance aircraft made five extended patrol flights over the North Pacific, beyond our 200-mile borders in a “high threat” zone. The CP-140 Aurora included a DFO fishery officer. Over the years, this joint operation has been responsible for the apprehension of several vessels and has served to deter illegal high seas fishing, including playing a key role in shutting down destructive illegal salmon fishing activities.
Violations have occurred and identified. They were investigated and information was shared with other nations that have a fisheries enforcement presence in the vicinity. These annual patrols work to deter and detect illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing (IUU) as well as verify compliance with the United Nations global moratorium on high seas driftnet fishing.
It is fact that the continue practice of IUU fishing threaten international marine resources, including many fish stocks such as salmon and tuna, which are an important resource to many Canadian communities on the Pacific coast. Canada works closely with big nations of the North Pacific to help stop IUU fishing in the region.
